Is $438 a Fair Chg for TieRod replacements?

[GJarrett]

Is $438 fair chg for TieRod replacements?

'99, 4wd, rack/pinion steering.

I replaced my hub assembly but I'm still wobbling. I can wiggle my tires left to right and watch the tierods move in and out. They are toast. I looked at the inside under the rubber boots and I'm not sure I want to mess with learning how to do this maintenance in addition to the rest of what I am doing now (pulling t-case, replacing hubs, etc).

Since Firestone aligned me last week and can get to my vehicle tomorrow morning, I went to them to get an estimate. $438 to replace the tierod inners and outers including parts and labor; realignment will be free since I just got it aligned last week at a Firestone during the Herc Tour.

Gads. This hobby is getting expensive. Should I cough up the $438, or is this a bad price?

 

[mattadams]

well I'm not sure what all is involved with a 98 that wouldn't be involved on a 94, but I replaced both tie rods including an alignment at meineke before last years moab run, and the bill was about $250. Although that was just the outers. Never heard of an inner going bad but I don't see why it wouldn't be possible.

 

[GJarrett]

It's not officially diagnosed yet; they can look at it 7am tomorrow. Thanks, now I know a fair price if it's just the outers. All I know is that the entire tierod moves in and out, it's not just the balljoint being worn.

 

[mrboyle]

The price sounds a little steep, but I just checked the price on the parts and if you break it down the price is close, but still a little high in my opinion.
Here is a break down of the prices:
Inner Tie Rod Ends- $72.01 ea.
Outter Tie Rod Ends- $54.83 ea.
(these are list prices)
Total parts- $253.68
Tax @ 8%- $20.30
Subtotal- $273.98
This leaves $164.02 for labor. If the shops labor rate is $60.00 pr.hr. The labor being charged would be 2.75hrs. The time is a little on the high side, as I use to charge 1 hr. per. side to r&r inner tierod ends.
Hope this helps.

 

[tdavis]

Originally posted by mrboyle
This leaves $164.02 for labor. If the shops labor rate is $60.00 pr.hr. The labor being charged would be 2.75hrs. The time is a little on the high side, as I use to charge 1 hr. per. side to r&r inner tierod ends.
Hope this helps.

What is the book hours? Firestone is going to use that..

 

[GJarrett]

Thanks for the info Mike, that's just what I needed. I went in armed with the true cost and labor time and mentioned my wholesale discount at the same Ford dealership they got the inners and outers from, and walked out paying $359, a heckuva lot less than $438.

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